He stared at you as you drank your tea.

Kris had managed to coax you into coming out of the dark closet and eat some food.

“Sae,” he broke the silence, “I’ve told you before, if it gets to hard or uncomfortable, we can always leave.”

You shook her head.

“I can’t leave.”

“Why not?”

“Please don’t ask why. I just need you to be my pillar, just as you’ve always been.”

You leaned onto his arm and placed your head on his shoulder.

“I know that I don’t say this enough, but ge, I really appreciate you and everything that you do for me. I’m very thankful that you put me first.”

“You’re important to me, Sae.”

“I’m afraid though…”

Kris scooted away to look at your face.

The look of question was in his eyes as he tried to understand what you meant.

“What are you afraid of?”

You shook your head and let out an empty laugh.

“I rely on you too much. Sometimes I worry that I take more from you than I can give.  You do so much for me, but there’s only so much I can do for you, you know?”

His expression morphed into a frown as he suddenly placed both hands on her shoulders and made eye contact.

“Don’t you ever, ever say that again. You have no idea what you do for me, Lee Saerin. I can’t tell you—there aren’t words to explain it. But it’s way much more than what I do for you.”

“But—“

He pulled you into his chest and held you tightly.